The Process of Discipleship

Text: Mark 3:13-19

Process is defined as a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.

Plato, called the “Father of Philosophy”, developed a system of thought that dealt with issues of epistemology which is the investigation of origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge as well as issues related to the meaning of life.

Aristotle was a student of (or discipled by) Plato who took what he learned from his teacher and built “gymnasiums” or “academics.”

Ancient world gymnasiums were not sport arenas for sporting events.  They were training centers to teach students about Plato’s thoughts and the system developed by Aristotle.

This “discipleship” process was so successful that it allowed the Greeks to influence the whole Greco-Roman world.  A process called “Hellenization” was created in which the people who were not Greek began to adopt Greek thinking, language, and culture which was all a part of this concept of discipleship.

This same process/concept is active in the New Testament spiritually so that we will know what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Discipleship involves an apprenticeship (one learning a trade) which is brought to a particular goal.

The Goal:  The learner or student follows the teachings and pattern of another so closely that he/she becomes a “clone” (a genetic duplicate of an organism).  The Truth is that Plato’s concept might have been new in the natural realm, but Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 informs us there is no new thing under the sun... that it hath been already of old time.  

In Genesis, the book opens with God’s activity in the creation of the physical world which would be the environment for the manifestation of His eternal purpose.  God is a Spirit, and His intention was to establish His Kingdom in that physical world without having to come visibly into that world Himself.  His purpose would be served by a visible creation which was the result of His creative genius.

This visible creation was mankind created from His own Spirit and including a family of offspring who would be just like Him - a clone.  Genesis 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

God restored order in Genesis by commanding, Let there be light (Genesis 1:3).  This is not referring to natural light or daylight but a Hebrew word owr (pronounced ore) meaning illumination or luminous (light up, light-giver).  A luminary is a brilliant person or notable person who can enlighten mankind.

Genesis 1:2  The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  These “waters” were His people.  Revelation 17:15  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.  But God (Elohim) Himself was restoring order by commanding Let there be light which was knowledge, understanding, wisdom!  God saw the Light, that it was good.  (Genesis 1:4)

This plan was not an accident!  It came through the planning and preparation of the great God of heaven.  Mankind was right there in the center of His plan.  Mankind wasn’t created only to consume resources - to eat, breathe, and take up space.  We were created to make a contribution.  We were created to have extreme unity with the Father meaning a relationship and not a religious experience!

St John 17:21  Jesus prayed, That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:  that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Just as Aristotle’s concept was successful, so was God’s.

HOW DID JESUS BEGIN THE DISCIPLESHIP PROCESS?

PRAYER

He knew the value of prayer and understood the value of praying with others.  He also knew the value of praying alone.  He spent time alone praying to His Father. Sometimes it’s important to “be still” before God.  Here, we see Jesus spent all night in the mountains praying and seeking guidance from His Father.  Jesus knew that gospel work needed gospel workers.  In Matthew 10, He called His disciples to Him, and He chose twelve of them.  

This was a turning point in His ministry.  He ordained them.  He authorized them.  He was sending them to do what He Himself was doing - preaching the gospel, healing sickness and casting out devils.  Jesus said to the disciples in St. John 20:21 Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  Verse 22:  He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.  I didn’t see where He said after you finish Seminary School nor did He set a date to catechize them, but He breathed His breath, His mind, His anointing on them or into them. He was entrusting them to continue His mission throughout the world!  John 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Many of us think discipleship is only for a few, the brave select, but this is not the Master’s attitude.  He wasn’t looking for models.  He was looking for real people. People who could be changed by His love.  He didn’t call the upper class people (Pharisees and Sadducees, teachers of the law).  He called the blue-collar workers with humble backgrounds.  He called men from the Galilee district known as despised and oppressed.  He called those that people looked at with natural eyes, and said “they’ll never be anything”, and counted them as unqualified.  To Jesus these were the best men.  He chose new wineskin type of people with learning minds to become Apostles.  If you put “new wine” into old skin bottles, as the wine fermented, it would crack those “old skin” bottles because that “old skin” had no flexibility!  He chose those who were men of many mistakes but men of learning through their mistakes.  Just know that their calling did not originate within themselves.  It was initiated through God Himself.  St. John 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.  It’s not because you or I deserve it but because of God’s mercy on us.

Jeremiah 1:5  Before I formed you in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.  This wasn’t Jeremiah’s doing but God’s.  Just as God had a life plan for Jeremiah, so He does for every one of us.  Living in God’s plan is not always a bed of roses, but His goal is for us to live according to His will and to allow Him to fulfill His plan in us.  It involves some bumps and bruising, but He told Jeremiah in verse 8, Do not be afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee.

No matter what your task is in life, God always promises His abiding Presence and help if you remain steadfast in your faith.  Jeremiah’s message was not popular. When you begin to teach the unadulterated Truth of God’s Word, your message won’t be popular either.

God’s calling is just that - HIS CALL, not YOUR CALL - and it’s based on His Sovereign choice.  He told Jeremiah in verse 7, Whatever I command thee thou shalt speak”.  God is not going to revoke “His calling”, nor can it be cancelled because you don’t feel comfortable or it’s too costly.  Romans 11:29  The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.  God chooses whom He wants.  He knew the kind of people He wanted to be His future successors!!

There are some folks who have their own idealistic disciple candidate.  This year’s Presidential election is a good example.  Our type is different from God’s type. Jesus’s disciples were transformed into new people.  Romans 12:2  Be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.  This is the first step in being a fruitful disciple maker.

HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO JESUS’S CALL?

They came to Him.  Those He called came willingly.  They didn’t make excuses.  They didn’t say, “I got a business to run”!  “Oh no, not me”!  “Can you call someone else”?  They just came.  They didn’t ask Jesus if they would receive a salary for their services or if they would have transportation.  They simply came!

This was a clear sign that God moved on their hearts to accept Jesus’s call.  When He called them, He appointed them, designated them “apostles”, meaning one sent out.  Their mission was not optional; it was clear they were being sent out to preach and teach the gospel.  They were now ambassadors of Christ representing the Kingdom government of God.

When you meet an ambassador, you’re meeting more than just a person.  You’re meeting a nation.  In the natural, when the United States sends out an ambassador to a foreign nation, the words of the U.S ambassador are the words of the U.S. government!  They have been authorized to be the voice for that government.  When Jesus sent out His disciples, they were authorized to walk, talk, and act like the one who dwelt on the inside of them!  So are we!!

Jesus knew exactly what He was doing and knew that they would grow to be great Apostles!

HOW DID HE KNOW?

He trained them Himself.  When Jesus called Simon Peter and Andrew, He said, “Come see” meaning follow me.  In other words, he meant going where He went, doing what He did, walking as He walked, knowing Him and making Him known.  Are you willing to make that sacrifice?  Are you willing to hand Jesus a blank sheet of paper and allow Him to write your agenda.  Jesus invites us “to come”, but often times, we want Jesus to come with us.  We want to fit Him into our schedules, our activities, our plans.  Sometimes, our lives are overwhelmingly busy.  Through all the hustle and bustle, we hear Jesus’s words, “Come and see”, not come and listen because what you will see will transform your very life.  He has much to show those who will just come and see.  Seeing is believing.  Being a disciple is going with Jesus, not asking Him to go with you.

The disciples saw blind eyes opened, the lame walk, lepers cleansed, deaf ears opened, the dead raised, the gospel preached to the poor.  Staying together is the best way to learn.  He didn’t give them lists of books to purchase for study nor did they need financial aid to assist with school fees.  They had to know Jesus by being with Him!

Understand, this was a great privilege to be up close and personal with Jesus - to actually see Jesus in action, laying hands on the sick and instant recovery.  It didn’t matter the disease because one touch could heal.  They were present when He drove out demonic spirits with just one word, and new life restored to the soul.

Everyone wanted to be with Jesus.  He gave these twelve appointed men special privilege to be with Him.  They were in the boat, in the field, at the house, by the seashore, on the mountain, on the road, in the synagogue, at the temple, in the upper room, in Nazareth, Capernaum, Jerusalem, Gethsemane, etc.  They were there when He was traveling, preaching, teaching, driving out demons, healing the sick, raising the dead, calming the storms, feeding the crowd, eating and sleeping. The only time they were not with Jesus was when He was praying in private and on the Cross.  Jesus taught them the Word, taught them His mind and heart.  He engaged them in ministry in various ways.  He sent them out preaching and teaching as well. They learned Jesus’s person and character.  If you want to know someone personally, spend time with them.  They were Jesus’s disciples, and they walked so closely with Him their spiritual eyes were opened until Peter was able to confess, “Thou art the Christ, Son of the Living God”.  Matthew 16:16

In closing, “What are you looking for”?  If Jesus called the twelve apostles, anointed them by breathing on them, trained them Himself and commissioned them to “go and teach all nations”, He has charged us in the same manner.  Let’s be about our Father’s business being Disciples of Christ and making disciples of others.  Living by example so others can see your good work!  Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.

When mankind is influenced or overtaken by the Spirit of God, they will adopt His mind to the point that we can talk like Him, walk like Him and live like Him according to His Word.  

Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.  

1 Corinthians 2:16  We have the mind of Christ.   

1 John 4:17  As he is, so are we in this world.

~ Evangelist Brenda Hansley